Tape data carrier, method and device for manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A tape data carrier for protecting articles and documents from counterfeiting and copying is formed by a polymer structure including at least one polymer layer of which at least one layer has at least one of through-perforations and pits. These through-perforations and pits are preferably between 0.001 μm and 20 μm in size and can be filled with different materials. The data carriers can carry concealed and visible macro-and micro- images created by heavy-ion bombardment of the polymer film, subsequent exposure of the bombarded film to ultraviolet radiation, and etching of the polymer film in a solvent. A device for manufacturing a data carrier of this type includes the following elements configured in series: a heavy ion source; a heavy ion beam-formation system; an ion guide; a three-dimensional amplitude modulation unit; and a target which is destined to become the data carrier. The three-dimensional amplitude modulation unit is designed to hold a matrix of wafers and is connected to a drive for rotating and translating the wafers. The drive is connected via a control unit to the three-dimensional amplitude modulation unit for positioning the target.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to means for storing information, to methods forcreating protective film elements intended to protect valuable documentsand other articles from counterfeiting, cleaning, correcting andcopying, and also to apparatus for their producing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

An information carrier in the form of a credit card being a polymerstructure which consists of two layers is known V. Belikov. “Electronicmoney: accumulation, employing, storing, safety”). In this carrier alayer is applied on a polymer structure layer, which has a reliefsurface and comprises a card owner identification code.

A resolution of modern relief image print types does not exceed 100 mm⁻.Such images defies a direct copying, but it is not too difficult toproduce a forgery card having such an image.

An information carrier which is made in the form of a composite materialfor a stencil print being a polymer structure consisting of two layersis also known (JP, B2 4-67515). One of this carrier's layers is made ofa complex polyester or a nylon, and has regularly located recesses equalor greater than 50 μm (micrometers) in size. Second layer is made of ahigh-molecular resin.

Said material has a limited resolution that create obstacles for its usein recording and replaying confidential messages.

A maximal progress in the art of recording and replaying high-frequencyimages is achieved in the field employing holographic and laser methods.These methods find their wide application last 20-30 years.

A method for producing a valuable document, in accordance with which asubstrate of a paper or a cardboard is first produced, is know (FR, A1,76 34289). For providing an optic mark structure causing a diffraction,reflection, or a refraction of falling light, a transparent layer of alayer formed by a printing paint is applied on that substrate, on whichlayer an information about the validity is written in the form of opticsqueeze marks provided by squeezing under a pressure and while heatingwith a diffraction master lattice or a master hologram.

Also a method for non-repeated indicating articles to prevent theircopying or counterfeiting by way of applying a holographic image onto asheet or a film, introducing this sheet or film into the article or itspacking, is known (GB, A1, 2092952). The image may be introduced itselfor it may be, for example, a holographic image of an owner or a monarch.

In despite of a high resolution at a current level or a development andspreading of a holographic technology for reproducing and squeezing, itis possible to make a copy with a very accessible means: lasers,holographic stands, moulding devices which are widely produced invarious countries. Moreover, with a great number of copies of a valuablepapers, it is technically difficult to provide in this number of copes aprotection of one paper relative to another within the use of thistechnology because it doesn't provide an individual protection of adocument.

A method for marking documents provided with an individual code in theform of punch which pattern has recognizable irregularities is known.The punch is performed by a laser beam on the basis of a usual pattern,wherein the laser control is performed by a computer in such a way thateach punch has an individual irregularity depending on a starting value(DE, A1, 3628353).

By this method it is possible to perform only an issue of asmall-numbered article amount since a speed of an every-point laserburning is significantly lower in comparison with techniques for formingmarks simultaneously over the whole carrier area. This method has alsorestrictions on the minimum diameter size of the hole with its maximumdepth, which restrictions are connected with a wavelength diffractionlimiting of the laser radiation, its power, and a carrier actinism,which is typical for polymer materials.

A method for creating a document protected from the counterfeiting isknown, in accordance with which method a reflecting layer is appliedonto at least one side of a sheet carrier. Pluralities of grains areapplied on the reflecting layer, resulting in that the layer surface hasan altering reflectivity (EP, A1, 0155982). Marks formed by pluralitiesof grains may be read by a machine method.

This highly original method of document protection from counterfeitinghas a number of essential limitations in its application. For example,it is difficult to provide a high resolution because of aggregatinggrains during their grinding and applying, due to rising the imagespectrum bandwidth in the lower space frequency area while increasing adispersity.

Also a method for producing a protective element in the form of a threador a band incorporated into documents is known (DE, A1, 390669). Inaccordance with this method, a clouded coating is created on a polymerfilm, on which coat, in its turn, slots are created in the form of signsand/or patterns. Painting and/or luminescent matters are applied on atleast areas coinciding with that slots, owing to which fact those signsand/or patterns become visible on the cloud coating.

In this method the protective element is created by forming transparentslots on the cloud coating, i.e. into the high-frequency nature of thecloud coating image a more low-frequency image in the form of thetransparent area is introduced, which may be filled with painting and/orluminescent matters. Thus, this method does not realized a carrierresolution on the level of cloud layer high-frequency properties.

An apparatus for producing information carriers is known V. P. Veiko.“Laser processing of film systems”). Said apparatus comprises a laser,an optical system forming laser beam, a target converted into theinformation carrier, and target moving device. With the help of thisapparatus the information carrier is provided having maximum resolutionof 0.5 μm while the target being of 60 to 200 nm thick, not permittingto protect completely the information from copying.

An apparatus for producing microfilters, which comprises a heavy ionsource, a heavy ion stream forming system, and ionguide, and a polymerfilm irradiated by the heavy ion stream, is known (SU, A, 574044). Uponetching microholes having a diameter greater than 0.01 μm are occurredin said film. Such a film, which received the name “nuclear filter” isemployed only for matters filtering in various fields, for instance, inmedicine, biology.

The basis of the present invention is a task of creating the informationfilm carrier to protect documents and articles from counterfeiting andcopying, and also the method and the apparatus for its producing, whichwould permit to enhance the protection degree of documents and articlesthrough the use of individual peculiarities of apparatus for creatingthe carrier, the high degree of the uniformity in geometric sizes ofmarks on the carrier, and the high resolution. Therewith a possibilityto employ the proposed method in producing many-number copy carriervolume was taken into account.

Furthermore, the given problem includes a possibility to create on onecarrier both visible and concealed images located either on one side ofthe film carrier or on its both sides while storing the concealed imageduring several years (i.e. till its visualization).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The given problem is solved by the fact that the information carrier isa film structure which comprises at least one layer of a polymermaterial having a relief surface formed by recesses and/or through-holeshaving the form of solids of revolution.

Recesses, through-holes and areas of a destructured polymer materialhave a diameter in the range of about 0.001 μm to 20 μm on the surfaceof the polymer material and may have the same diameter and differentdepth.

At least a portion of recesses and through-holes may be filled with ananisotropic material, and/or a transparent, electrical conductivematerial, and/or a matter having magnetic properties, and/or a colouringmatter, and/or hydrophobic or hydrophilic matter, and/ or luminescentmatter, and/or a destructured material or the respective polymer layer.

The carrier layer system may comprise at least one layer of a magneticmaterial, and/or of a dichroic material, and/or hydrophilic orhydrophobic layer, and/or of a luminescent material, and/or a metallayer partially exceeding the layer of the polymer material and/or athermoplastic material.

The film structure's layers may be made of polymer materials havingdifferent spectral characteristics and refraction coefficients.

The film structure may have on one of its sides a net of a polymermaterial or a metal having through-hole diameter equal or greater than20 μm. Particularly, the net may be produced from thepolyethyleneterephthalat.

The given problem is also solved by the fact that in the method forproducing an information film carrier in which a step of forming markson a polymer film having at least one layer is performed, in accordancewith the invention the marks are formed by irradiating said polymer filmwith heavy ions to form a first concealed image, thereafter exposingsaid film to an ultraviolet radiation to form a second concealed image,and etching said film to create said marks in the form of recesses andholes.

The step of irradiating said polymer film may be performed withspace-modulated heavy ions, for example, ions of carbon, chlorine,nitrogen, oxygen, and argon. Therewith the space modulation may be made,particularly, with the help of a mask.

A type of ions and their energy are chosen depending on their ability topass through the whole width of said polymer film.

In order to enhance carrier protection functions, the step ofirradiating with heavy ions is performed in accordance withpredetermined angle change between a propagation direction of said heavyions and a surface of said polymer film. However, as a special case, theangle between said propagation direction of said heavy ions and saidfilm surface may be chosen constant. For the same object—to enhancecarrier protection functions—a possibility of irradiating the polymerfilm from its both sides serves.

Similar to the step of irradiating the polymer film with heavy ions thestep of exposing it to the ultraviolet radiation may be performedparticularly through a mask.

The step of exposing to the ultraviolet radiation allows to create onthe film a concealed image which can be stored for several years tillits visualization which is completed by the step of etching the polymerfilm until appearing through-holes and/or recesses in it.

An apparatus is employed to produce the proposed information carrierwhich apparatus comprises, arranged in series, a heavy ion source, aheavy ion stream forming system, an ionguide, and a target convertedduring the step of irradiation with heavy ions into the informationcarrier, wherein the apparatus further comprises a space amplitudemodulation unit arranged in the ionguide downstream from said heavy ionstream forming system and connected to a rotation and/or motion driver,and a target motion unit and a control unit are connected by theircorresponding outputs to inputs of the driver and the target motionunit.

Therewith, the unit of the space amplitude modulation of the heavy ionstream is made in the form of a matrix of mobile plates arranged in atleast two rows and two columns and connected to the rotation and/ormotion driver.

Each of plates may have a possibility to rotate with respect to its ownaxis of symmetry and to move relative to each other within one rowand/or one column by means of the drive. In each matrix row there may beplaced of 10 to 100 plates, and in each matrix column there may be of 1to 10 plates.

Plates are made of a material absorbing said heavy ions partially orcompletely, and the height of each of said plates is chosen so as to cutoff completely said heavy ion stream in the vertical plane. The width ofeach of said plates is chosen from the range of 0.1 to 100 mm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The proposed invention is explained by the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a one-layer information carrier;

FIG. 2 shows a multilayer information carrier having a metal andthermoplastic layers;

FIG. 3 shows a multilayer information carrier having a magnetic layer;

FIG. 4 shows a multilayer information carrier having an electricalconductive material.

FIG. 5 shows an information carrier having a net coating;

FIG. 6 shows an information carrier used in the form of a film toprotect documents and articles from counterfeiting and copying;

FIG. 6a shows a top view of an information carrier used in the form of afilm to protect documents and articles from counterfeiting and copying;

FIG. 6b shows a side, section-view of the information carrier withlayers of polyethyleneterephthalat, thermoplastic, and aluminum;

FIG. 7 shows an information carrier used in a plastic card;

FIG. 8 illustrate the step of irradiating the polymer film with heavyions;

FIG. 8a illustrates the step of irradiating the polymer film with heavyions;

FIG. 8b illustrates irradiating the polymer film through an amplitudespace modulation unit;

FIG. 8c illustrates irradiating the polymer film through a mask;

FIG. 8d illustrates irradiating the polymer film with various incidentangles;

FIG. 8e illustrates irradiating the polymer film through a mask withheavy ions with an angle of incidence less the 90° to the surface of thefilm;

FIG. 9 illustrate the step of exposing the polymer film to theultraviolet radiation;

FIG. 9a illustrates the step of exposing the polymer film to ultravioletradiation;

FIG. 9b illustrates exposing the polymer film to ultraviolet radiationthrough a mask;

FIG. 9c illustrates exposing a polymer film with heavy ion tracks formedat various angles to ultraviolet radiation;

FIG. 9d illustrates exposing a polymer film with heavy ion tracks formedat an angle to ultraviolet radiation through a mask;

FIG. 10 illustrate the step of etching;

FIG. 10a illustrates the film of FIG. 9a after etching;

FIG. 10b illustrates the film of FIG. 9b after etching;

FIG. 10c illustrates the film of FIG. 9c after etching;

FIG. 10d illustrates the film of FIG. 9d after etching;

FIG. 11 shows the general view of the carrier with marks;

FIG. 11a shows the general view of the carrier with marks;

FIG. 11b is a detail view of the carrier with marks;

FIG. 12 shows diagrammatically the apparatus for producing informationcarriers; and

FIG. 13 is the general view of the plate matrix.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The proposed information carrier is a polymer structure made of one ormore polymer material layers. The number of polymer structure layers isdetermined by the information carrier purpose and is selected inaccordance with technical and technological factors of mating thecarrier with writing and reading devices.

Referring to FIG. 1, any one polymer material layer 1 or any theirnumber are performed with through-holes 2 and/or recesses 3 having suchtheir dispersion along the polymer structure surface, which correspondsto the given one.

A polyethyleneterephthalat, copolymer or acrylonitrile, butadiene andstyrole, and also dichroic films, for example made from acetylcelluloseor sulphate iodquinine, may be used as a polymer material.

Each hole 2 or recess 3 has a diameter d on the surface greater than0.001 μm. The diameter value has than 0.001 μm can be achieved with agreat difficulty, and does not allow to provide stable parameters andleads to their essential deviations.

All polymer structure recesses and holes on the respective area have thesame diameter d and a form of a symmetric solids of revolution, forexample, a cylindrical 2 or a conical 4, 5 form or a form of solids ofrevolution, which axes are directed at different angles to the carriersurface 6.

The recesses and holes in the carrier may be filled with variousmaterials 7 depending on its specific application and technologies ofreading the information from it.

The through-holes allow to perform the transfer of other matters fromone layer to another, or from one carrier on another carrier, and therecesses may have different depths and provide a dosed, in accordancewith their depths, matter transfer on another carrier.

There exists a number of information transmission condition (valuablepaper protection, plastic cards, permits and certificates), when thecarrier must comprise the information in a implicit form for animmediate inspection and, in the same time, be operatively readable byspecial means. All this must combine with an information re-creationdifficulty, i.e. a carrier copy re-creation.

Such problems are solved using the proposed carrier when in its holesand/or recesses a destructed material is retained, which is createdafter irradiating the film.

For the information carrier may be used, for example, as a cryptographicprotection, a portion of polymer film holes and/or recesses is filledwith the destructed material of the corresponding layer, the informationon which is formed by combining the really created holes and/or recessesand those filled with the destructed material. Such carrier provides acomplete concealment of information from the immediate observation, andan impossibility of its copying and counterfeiting.

A portion of polymer structure holes may be filled with an anisotropicmaterial. In this case an image reading is executed by phase andpolarization techniques.

Five polymer resin main types are used anisotropic materials: polyester,epoxy, phenolic, melamin, silicone or their various combinations, andurethane rubbers.

For the same purposes recesses and holes may be filled with aluminescent matter, for example, comprised a mixture of the zincsulphide and the manganese. In this case the image reproduction from thecarrier is executed with the help of the electric field or anultraviolet source.

In foregoing versions of filling the carrier recesses and holes withdifferent matters a visualisation of the concealed image is the commonpoint. However, a choice from said versions may be done depending onrequirements to an information protection degree and to comfort both ofrepresenting and processing an information.

Thus, a carrier having the recess and hole size of 0.001 to 0.01 μm maybe produced by filling them with a destructed material only, and have,or course, a maximum space resolution or record density.

Carriers with recesses and holes carrying anisotropic and dichroicmatters have somewhat similar possibilities. While the latter have agreater contrast when reading in the polarized light, the carriers withthe anisotropic filling of recesses and holes are represented by agreater selection of said materials. In despite of that the carrierswith recesses and holes filled with luminescent matters yield to thecarriers described above in the resolution (in this case recesses andholes are made of 1 to 5 μm in diameter for the luminophor dispersion),a substantial merit of such carrier is a high image contrast owing to aself-luminescence.

The polymer structure may consist of layers in which various materialsare utilized.

The layers in the polymer structure are connected one to another orapplied one on another by a technique of sprinkling from the solution ormelt, and also by a transfer.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the information carrier with the polymerstructure having a layer of a thermoplastic material 8 has an ability tobe applied on another carrier, to carry an additional information,allows to erase controllably the written information and may be used totransmit and store the information as plastic cards, protection filmsfor documents.

A thermoplastic layer protecting recesses and holes may be used tofasten this carrier on another carrier, and gives a possibility tomodify the written information in the form of free recesses and holes byleaking or pressing a thermoplastic layer 9, 10 into a portion of them.Polyurethane, and copolymers of polystyren, polyvinylchloride,polyvinylbutyral, acrylonitryl, butadiene are used as the thermoplasticmaterial.

A metal layer 11 disposed in the contact with the layer carryingrecesses and holes increases substantially the contrast of the image onthe carrier. The contrast enhancement is achieved while reading theinformation due to a double light pass via recesses and holes whichdiffract partially a directed light stream. The metal layer is appliedby an evaporation, or from a chemical solution, or by a galvanic way.The aluminium, the silver, the platinum, the nickel, the chrome, thegold may be used as those metals.

The information carrier has a greater protection and possibilities ofutilizing if the information on it may be formed and read on the samearea using the different physical effects.

In the proposed carrier this is realized by inserting a magnetic layer12 (FIG. 3), or by filling recesses and/or holes with a magnetic lacquer13, for example, on the basis of the chrome dioxide. Both in the firstand in the second cases the information may be read either by optic ormagnetic methods. In the first case, when the magnetic layer fills thewhole plane (except of recesses and holes), recesses and holes, alongwith the magnetic record of the information, play the role of allowingmarks read optically. In the second case the carrier comprises amultipoint submicron magnetic record of the information.

A transparent electric conductive layer 14 (FIG. 14) applied on thelayer carrying the holes and recesses allows to realize the informationcarrier in record and display devices. In this case in the informationrecord and display device, charges forming the electrostatic field areapplied on the surface of the dielectric film 15 disposed on anotherside of the layer carrying holes and recesses with respect to theelectric conductive layer. Under ponderomotive forces of this field thefilm is deformed above recesses and holes depending on the charge value,—a microrelief is formed which is read by a phase-contrast optic. Uponremoval of the charge the relief is restored under elastic forces of thefilm. Films of oxides of the tin and indium applied by evaporation areemployed as the electric conductive layer.

A multilayer polymer structure in information carriers may compriselayers of polymer material with different refraction coefficients,resulting in that the information carrier acquires an ability, incombination with an existence of recesses and holes in the layers, to beused for reading the information by light-valve systems.

If the information carrier comprises two layers differed one fromanother by their refraction coefficients wherein one of them comprisingthe through-holes and recesses turned to another layer, then recessesand holes in such carrier are protected, and the effectiveness of theinformation reading from them is maintained by the difference ofcontacting materials refraction indices. As those materials thepolystyrene and the gelatine, the plexiglass and the iceland spar havingthe refracting indices 1.588 and 1.465; 1.491 and 1.658 correspondinglyare used.

Layers in the multilayer polymer structure may be formed from polymermaterials with different spectral characteristics, for example,materials on the basis of polyvinylchloride paints are used with thenext wavelengths: for blue colour—0.45 μm, for green colour—0,52 μm, forred colour—0.63 μm.

The information carrier comprising colour layers with recesses and holesprovide a possibility to reproduce the colour information not only by achange of an area occupied with recesses and holes, but also by recessesdepth. In this case an additive and substractive reproducing of thecolour information is realized. In the simplest case the polystyrenepainted by a blue and red due-staff, and films on the basis ofpolyvinylchloride paints of a red and green colour are used.

A further possibility for creating the range of colours is achieved whenfilling recesses and holes by a colouring matter.

The information carrier with such polymer structure has multicolourimages formed by holes and recesses in different layers of the carrier,and is used, for example, for the high-quality information withprotection functions.

The information carrier comprising the polymer substrate with a layer ofdifferent depth recesses provide a possibility to transfer the colouringmatter on another carrier in a quantity corresponding to recesscapacity, i.e. the intaglio printing principle is realized, whereinprinting elements being of several microns to micron parts, and thedepth may vary from 0 to 5-20 μm.

If one of outside surfaces in the proposed carrier is made hydrophilicor hydrophobic, and its recesses and holes are filled with a hydrophobicor hydrophilic material, then in this case such carrier is an offsetprinting form with submicron printing or blank elements. Thepolyethyleneterphthalat serves as a material for such carrier. Recessesand holes are filled with a lacquer to obtain hydrophobic features, andwith the starch to obtain hydrophilic features.

The information carrier with layers carrying recesses and holes may beused as a stencil form for transferring the information in the form of acoloured image on another carrier. The polyethleneterephthalat isutilized as the carrier, which is covered with a thin metal layer forenhancing a stability to a great number copying. Inks and pastes areused as colouring matters. Such carrier provide a possibility toreproduce micron and submicron elements of the image.

If it is necessary to transfer the information on another carrier by anadhesive, then to prevent an adhesive from getting into the carrierrecesses and holes a net 16 (FIG. 5) is placed between the layercarrying these elements and the adhesive, which is made from thepolyethyleneterephthalat with a cell equal or greater than 20 μm.Therewith the net with holes less than 20 μm in diameter does notprovide the signal-to-noise ratio sufficiency when reading the imagefrom recesses and holes disposed in the net holes.

The information carrier having the net on the polymer basis is intendedfor transferring the image on another carrier, and is protected from theadhesive getting into the holes and recesses, and is employed ininformation protective systems from a non-authorized use.

A very important feature of the proposed information carrier is inrealizing the condition that all recesses and holes have the same size.Such carrier may be used to protect valuable papers, plastic cards andother documents, and also to produce on their basis guarantee labels forwide purpose products. It is easy to determine under a microscope anexistence of recesses and holes of the same size, their location, andwith the help of a microscope, a video camera and a computer an identityof the given information to the predetermined one is revealed. At thepresent time there are no techniques for copying submicron structures,and it is substantially impossible to reproduce submicron holes and/orrecesses of the same size on a big enough area.

It is important to not a possibility of creating on the proposedinformation carrier recesses and holes having different diameter sizes,wherein providing their constancy on individual area. This first relatesto the purpose of the carrier and its structure. As pointed above,recesses and holes diameters of 0.001 to 0.01 μm may be realized only incombination with filling these recesses and holes with the destructedmaterial. Information carriers with such range are used for particularlyvaluable documents with an information protection testing system of thestationary use.

Information carriers with the range of recesses and holes diameter of0.01 to 0.1 μm are used to encode subscribes on valuable papers, sealsand stamps, and also application detachable block-notes with a sheetfrom the information carrier are produced, which may be applied onvarious production.

Printing processes (stencil, intaglio and offset printing) using theinformation carrier in the printed form are performed with carrierlayers having recesses and holes of 0.1 to 20 μm in diameter. Suchrecesses and holes sizes allow to create micro-patterns for a valuablepaper protection, and also to print micro-patterns of high quality.

EXAMPLE 1 The Information Carrier as a Material For Document ProtectionFrom Copying and Counterfeiting.

The information carrier is made from the polyethyleneterephthalat film17 (FIG. 6) 50 μm in thickness with a thermoplastic layer 18 from thepolyethylene 10 μm in thickness. The carrier is produced in two versionsfor working on clearance and for working on reflection. In the secondversion the carrier comprises an aluminium layer 19 between polymerlayers. Recesses and holes 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 having 1.0 μm in diameterand 10.0 μm in depth (with a deviation not greater than 5%) are made onthe polyethyleneterephthalat film. Recesses and holes location densityis 10⁶ cm⁻. A part of the information is written on the carrier in thealphanumeric form and/or in the graphic form 20 observed with the nakedeye or with a small magnification.

In order to protect documents the carrier is rolled to the document bythe thermoplastic layer.

Recesses and holes of predetermined diameter (1.0 μm) and the density oftheir location on the carrier surface serve as the protectioninformation on the carrier.

If, while testing, recesses and holes diameters and the density matcheswith predetermined ones then the document is considered to be authentic.The test is conducted in three stages. In the first stage theintegrality of the carrier on the document and the information in theform of the macro-pattern are tested, in the second stage the existenceof recesses and holes of 1.0 μm in size and their density are determinedunder the microscope, and in the third stage the test is performed bythe microscope, the video camera, and the computer, as a resultreceiving the data about recesses and holes size and density, and theirmatching with those predetermined.

Existing methods and means do not permit to copy the image with suchelement sizes. It is substantially impossible to counterfeit suchcarrier since to reproduce the volumetric structure of recesses andholes with the fixed diameter predetermined by an accidentaldistribution of recesses and holes density is a very complex andexpensive problem.

EXAMPLE 2 The Information Carrier is a Plastic Card

On the polymer substrate 21 (FIG. 7) a magnet strip 22 with a metalsublayer 23 of aluminium are applied. The polymer film comprises animage of recesses and holes 0.8 μm in diameter, wherein a portion of theimage (the name of the firm producing the card, the firm mark) is formedfrom the through-holes 24 and another portion (the owner name, theidentification cod) is formed from the recesses 25.

When observing the image without special means the areas with thethrough-holes are indistinguishable. However, when using a microscopetogether with a directed light source these areas differ sharply in thebrightness. The light passing via the through-holes is reflected fromthe metal sublayer with the greater efficiency than the light reflectedfrom the recesses being a diffuser.

It is substantially impossible to counterfeit or copy such card becauseit is impossible to repeat the location and sizes of recesses and holesof 0.8 μm in diameter.

The method for producing the information carrier may be realized asfollows.

A polymer film piece 26 (FIG. 8) is chosen as an initial material forproducing the carrier. The polyethyleneterephthalat film may be used asthe polymer film. The polymer film is placed into the cyclotron forirradiating by the stream of heavy ions 27 (FIG. 8a). First of all theseare ions of the carbon, the oxygen, the nitrogen, the argon, thechlorine. Depending on the film thickness and requirements to the markrecesses and holes depth one or other ion type may be used. Thus, forexample, for films with the thickness up to 20 μm substantially any offoregoing ions may be used, since the choice will be defined by theamount of the energy of their acceleration (at the same value, forinstance, for the oxygen and argon ions the energy of their accelerationis 32 and 80 megaelectronvolts, respectively), and for films with thegreater thickness the choice is limited substantially by the oxygen andargon ions since their run is of 40 to 180 μm.

As a result of the one-sided or two-sided irradiation, track 28 areformed in the film material, which form the first conceal image.

The irradiation may be performed by space-modulated heavy ions forproviding the macro-pattern on the carrier. The heavy ion spacemodulation is achieved by various methods, particularly, by setting anamplitude space modulation unit 29 (FIG. 8b) on the way of the heavy ionstream, and/or, for example, by setting a mask 30 (FIG. 8c) before thepolymer film.

Using the amplitude space modulation unit 29 in the cyclotron, the ionirradiation of the whole polymer film surface is performed. In this caseareas with the different track intensity or track location frequency arecreated in the polymer film. While using the mask 30 tracks are creatednot along the whole surface of the polymer film but only in those placeswhere the film was open to the irradiation.

The heavy ion irradiation may be also performed at an angle α (FIG. 8d)to film surface, being different from the right angle, or at an anglevarying in irradiation. As a result, tracks formed in the film are alsodisposed either at some constant angle α or at an angle varying alongthe film surface. Therewith the heavy ion stream space modulation may bealso used in the manners shown above (FIG. 8e).

Such polymer film production allows to provide a first concealed imagethat is substantially impossible to reproduce as a result of employingthe certain cyclotron and the heavy ion space modulation method.

After the heavy ion irradiation the polymer film is subjected toexposing by the ultraviolet (UV) radiation 31 (FIG. 9). Due to the UVradiation of the polymer film irradiated by heavy ions, extended areasof the destructured material 32 (FIG. 9a) are occurred around tracksformed by heavy ions, which areas are sensible to the following etching.By this way a second concealed image is produced.

The UV radiation exposure as well as the heavy ion irradiation may beperformed by the space-modulated UV radiation, particularly by applyinga mask 33 (FIG. 9b) on the film surface, wherein open areas correspondto a macro- and micro-pattern of the mark. In order to enhance thecarrier protection degree the exposure may be performed from both sidesof the polymer film.

It should be noted that in the case when the heavy ion irradiation wasmade not at the right angle, extended areas of the destructed materialare disposed along heavy ion tracks and thus are also disposed at thepredetermined angle α (FIGS. 9c and 9 d) in the given point of thepolymer film.

The visualization of the mark in the form of microholes of 0.001 μm to20 μm was performed by etching the film, for example, in 20% sodiumhydroxide solution. To neutralize the sodium hydroxide the polymer filmis then handled with the acetic acid, washing with the distillate waterand dried.

As a result, recesses and holes 34 and 35 (FIG. 10a) were formed on thepolymer film surface, having the form of solids of revolution. Theserecesses and holes copies exactly predetermined parameters of the heavyion space modulation irradiation and UV radiation exposure (FIG. 10b)including the predetermined slope of recesses and holes at the angle α(FIG. 10c and 10 d). Thus, the visible macro-pattern (FIG. 11) and themicro-pattern (FIG. 11a) are formed.

The macro-pattern may be in the form of various signs, numbers, lettersdepending on employing masks (FIG. 11a). The micro-pattern (FIG. 11b) isthe sets of recesses and holes having a predetermined diameterdistribution, a slope to the polymer film surface, and a frequency ofthe distribution along the surface, for the given carrier.

The provided carrier may be used for the protection of some document,for example, the personality certificate by sticking it on thiscertificate so as one its part would cover the owner photo not fully andthe other its part would fall on the signature place. The ownersignature may be covered with a thin layer of the lacquer which wouldfill free holes on the carrier (other holes are filled with the inkwhile signing). Taking into consideration the high density of the holeslocation on the carrier and holes micron sizes, one can assert that itis of no possibility to counterfeit, to correct in the carrier area, orto copy this personality certificate. When viewing he mark image underthe microscope, one can see a micro-pattern (with a magnification up to10 folds) and images of individual holes with the same diameters of 0.01μm (with a magnification of 1350 folds). For automatic determination ofidentification features the mark on the carrier is read through themicroscope (with a magnification of 40 folds) together with a CCD(charge-coupled device) camera and is input the image into the personalcomputer.

By the latter, sizes of the holes, the density of their distribution andthe space frequency spectrum are determined quickly and effectively,allowing to fully reveal and to correlate identification features.

The advantage of the proposed method for producing the information filmcarrier is that marks are provided in the form of recesses and holeswhich size range is within 0.01-20 μm in diameter on the carriersurface, and which reproduction with known methods is impossible.Moreover, their space distribution on the film may correspondstatistically to radiation apparatus peculiarities, for example,aberrations of the ion beam forming magnetic system, a design ofelements and cyclotron materials—the magnet, duants, and other elements.Therefore it is substantially impossible to make the same cyclotron thatwould give the similar statistic distribution of ions along the polymerfilm surface.

Among this the use of the cyclotron with heavy ions permits to vary overa wide limits recesses and holes sizes both in their diameter on thefilm surface and depth within the material, which makes additionalpossibilities to protect the information with the help of marks becausetheir reproducing by known techniques is improbable.

The important advantage of the method is that the first mark concealimage formed in the film by heavy ions while irradiating it in thecyclotron may be visualized either immediately after irradiating orafter the considerable time, till several years, which may be employedfor producing the concealed protection.

It should be noted that the heavy ion irradiation brings the possibilityto provide marks assembled from recesses and holes with the high degreeof the uniformity in geometric sizes. This unique property of the givenprocess allows to protect more firmly the security document from thecounterfeiting and corrections.

By exposing with UV radiation, one can introduce changes and additionsinto marks patterns. And since no visible traces of mark pattern remainon the polymer film after the irradiation, changes and additions duringthe UV radiation exposure may be brought only knowing exactly the firstconcealed image location, which is very important during the informationmultistep protection.

By etching the polymer film with the help of sodium or potassiumhydroxide the mark image may be visualized. Therewith depending onetching modes (time, concentration, composition, and temperature of thesolution), geometric sizes recesses and holes forming the mark may bevaried, but not their co-ordinates.

The selective etching (via the mask) gives additional possibilities tovary the protection by way of marks.

If setting the heavy ion space modulation during the irradiation, whichstipulates changes in ion speed and direction, then the possibility tobring an additional protection in the mark in the form of statisticallydetermined dispersion of recesses and holes on the polymer film appears.Since these mark elements have micron sizes, and their surface densityis 10⁵⁻10¹⁰ elements per 1 cm², it is extremely difficult to reproducesuch mark by other techniques.

Taking into account mark forming technology difficulties, the first stepwhile the attempt of its erasing or copying may be a determination ofrecesses and holes location topology on the polymer film, which isconnected with great expenses of finance and time. The fact is that theconventional microphotograph is not sufficient to describe theirlocation because holes and recesses are disposed within the film volumehaving an output on its one or both sides. Consequently for the reliabledescription it is necessary to have a multiple-viewed, steroscopicimage. Such challenge relates to sufficiently complicatedscience-technical problems. However, even after its solution a no lesscomplicated problem arises how to reproduce the mark.

During the exposure by the space-modulated UV radiation, a possibilityto transform the first concealed image into the second concealed imageof the mark appears, with simultaneous incorporating additions andchanges in it which were inexpedient for some reasons to perform in thestage of forming the first concealed image. For instance, it is moreexpedient to modulate the high-frequency component of the markmacro-pattern in the stage of exposing by UV than in the stage ofirradiating.

During the irradiation, in order to enlarge carrier use possibilities,the mark macro-pattern may be created which is assembled frommicro-patterns in the form of micro-holes and micro-recesses. For thispurpose the irradiation is conducted through the mask forming the image.Marks with the macro-pattern (their reading is performed withoutemploying special means), with the micro-pattern (a small opticmagnification is needed while reading), and with the submicron-pattern(in this case the optic or combined —optic and electronic—magnificationof 1000-1500 folds is employed while reading) may be provided with thehelp of the mask.

In many cases it is required the information carrier to protect articlesand documents, working on clearance, for example, in plastic cards withholes, in some types of passes, certificates and tickers. In someapplications the carrier is applied onto the mirror reflected surfaceand works actually on clearance. The most effective carrier is oneworking on clearance if its marks are performed from holes because thereading light beam passing through those holes would not diffuse in thecarrier material, which takes place when marks are performed fromrecesses.

The significant advantage of the proposed method over known ones is apossibility to form marks from recesses and holes located at thepredetermined angle to the film surface, which is achieved byirradiating it by heavy ions with the predetermined angle change betweenthe heavy ion spread direction and the film surface, particularly, thisangle may be chose constant.

The variation of the angle value of the orientation of mark holes andrecesses relatively to the film surface gives the enhancement to carrierprotection functions due to substantially complete absence ofpossibilities to perform this by other methods.

The apparatus for producing information carriers comprises a heavy ionsource 36 (FIG. 12), a heavy ion stream forming system 37 arranged inthe direction of the heavy ion stream, and a ionguide 38 coupled to aninlet of a camera 39.

A target 40 converted into the information carrier while irradiating isplaced in the camera 39 and located so as the heavy ion stream isdirected on it.

In the ionguide 38, following the system 37, a heavy ion stream spaceamplitude modulation unit 41 is arranged being a matrix 42 (FIG. 13) ofplates 43. The matrix 42 has several rows and several columns of plates43. In each row of the matrix 42 there are disposed of 10 to 100 plates,wherein if the number of plates is less then 10 then a dynamic range ofan accidental field record falls sharply, and with the number of platesin the row exceeding 100 a possibility of ionguide aperture effectiveuse is limited.

In each columns of the matrix 42 there are disposed of 1 to 10 plates,wherein if there number is greater than 10 then a possibility of anionguide apeture effective use is limited.

Each plate 43 of the matrix 42 is made from a material absorbing heavyions, partly or completely, for example, from the beryllium bronze.

A height of the plate 43 is selected so that it would cut off completelythe heavy ion stream in the vertical plane, if there is only one columnin the matrix 42. If the matrix 42 has several columns then thisrequirement is presented to a total height value of column plates 43,respectively.

A plate width is selected from the range of 1.0 mm to 100 mm, wherein atthe width of less than 1.0 mm it is difficult in technical way toprovide their effective control-setting and such complication isunjustified for the carrier production, and at the width of greater than100 mm the ion stream modulation becomes ineffective.

To provide a possibility of adjusting the unit 41, plates 43 in thematrix 42 are made with a possibility to rotate with respect to its ownaxis of symmetry and/or to move relative to each other within one rowand/or one column. For this purpose the apparatus comprises a platerotating and/or moving unit 44 coupled with the unit 41.

The unit 44 is a remote driver, for example, on the basis of selsyns andmay be performed by any known way.

In the disclosed apparatus the target 40 is moved within the camera 39by the driver 45 which is connected to an apparatus operation controlunit 46. The unit 44 is also connected to the unit 46.

The driver 45 as well as the unit 46 are performed by any known waydepending on the type of the produced information carrier, its designand purpose.

The system 37 is a magnet optic structure of a known design.

The apparatus for producing information carriers operates as follows.

In the unit 41 by means of the unit 44 the relative position of plates43 in the matrix 42 is set by moving them along rows and columns of thematrix 42 and rotating with respect to their own axis of symmetry 47 soas to provide the passing of the heavy ion stream which form thepredetermined distribution of track from the ion passing. Plates 43 inthe matrix 42 move in three directions and, moreover, rotate at requiredangle, allowing to provide the space amplitude modulation of the ionstream directed to the unit 41.

The heavy ion stream is directed from the source 36 into the system 37where the stream is formed by the following parameter: the distributionof pores along the surface of the target 40 within the range of 5·10⁵ to10¹⁰ cm⁻².

The formed stream is directed through the ionguide 38 to the unit 41 inwhich the stream space amplitude modulation take place due to thepartial or full absorption of heavy ion stream parts in the material ofplates 43.

Then the heavy ion stream penetrates through the inlet into the camera39 onto the surface of the target 40 which polymer structure issubjected to the heavy ion irradiation and converted into theinformation carrier.

The proposed apparatus provides the production of the carrier with awide dynamic range of both the ion surface density change and thedistribution of this density along the target surface.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention may be used for producing the following papers andother documents assumed to be protected by the proposed submicronprotection method: bank-notes, passports, bonds, shares, bills, checks,plastic cards, certificates, passes, tickets, bank documents, notarialdocuments, diplomata, certification and licence cards, labels, lotterytickets, telephone cards etc.

Furthermore, the proposed film carrier may be fixed on various articlesby any known technique suitable for polymer films to confirm theirauthenticity. For instance, it may be a preliminary recorded audio orvideo cassette with the film stuck on its packaging.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information carrier being a film structurecomprising at least one layer of a polymer material having a reliefsurface, wherein the relief surface is formed by at least one ofrecesses and through-holes having a form of solids of revolution andwherein the film structure comprises several layers made of polymermaterials having different spectral characteristics.
 2. The carrierdefined by claim 1, wherein said recesses, said through-holes and areasof a destructed polymer material have a diameter on the surface of thepolymer material in the range of about 0.001 micrometers to 20micrometers.
 3. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein said recessesand through-holes have the same diameter.
 4. The carrier defined byclaim 1, wherein said recesses and through-holes have different depths.5. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least a portion of saidrecesses and through-holes are filled with an anisotropic material. 6.The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least a portion of saidrecesses and through-holes are filled with a transparent, electricallyconductive material.
 7. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at leasta portion of said recesses and through-holes are filled with a matterhaving magnetic properties.
 8. The carrier defined by claim 1, whereinat least a portion of said recesses and through-holes are filled with acolouring matter.
 9. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least aportion of said recesses and through-holes are filled with a hydrophobicmatter.
 10. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least a portionof said recesses and through-holes are filled with a luminscent matter.11. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least a portion of saidrecesses and through-holes are filled with a destructed material of thepolymer layer.
 12. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein said filmstructure comprises at least one layer of a magnetic material.
 13. Thecarrier defined by claim 1, wherein said film structure comprises atleast one layer of a dichroic material.
 14. The carrier defined by claim1, wherein said film structure comprises at least one hydrophilic orhydrophobic layer.
 15. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein said filmstructure comprises at least one layer of a luminescent material. 16.The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein said film structure comprises atleast one metal layer partially covering said layer of the polymermaterial.
 17. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least one layerof said film structure is made of a thermoplastic material.
 18. Thecarrier defined by claim 1, wherein the film structure comprises severallayers made of polymer materials having different refractioncoefficients.
 19. The carrier defined by claim 1, wherein said filmstructure has on one side a net of a polymer material having athrough-hole diameter at least 20 micrometers.
 20. The carrier definedby claim 19, wherein a polyethyleneterphthalat is employed as the netpolymer material.
 21. A method for producing an information film carrierto protect articles and documents from counterfeiting and copying, saidmethod comprising a step of forming marks on a polymer film having atleast one layer, wherein said marks are formed by irradiating saidpolymer film with heavy ions to form a first concealed image, thereafterexposing said film to an ultraviolet radiation to form a secondconcealed image, and etching said film to create said marks in the formof recesses and holes.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step ofirradiating said polymer film is performed with space-modulated heavyions.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein said step of irradiating saidfilm with heavy ions is performed through a mask applied to the film.24. The method of claim 21, wherein said heavy ions are selected fromthe group comprising chlorine, nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and carbon ions.25. The method of claim 21, wherein said ions and their energy arechosen depending on their ability to pass through the whole thickness ofsaid polymer film.
 26. The method of claim 21, wherein said step ofirradiating with heavy ions is performed in accordance withpredetermined angle change between a propagation direction of said heavyions and a surface of said polymer film.
 27. The method of claim 26,wherein said angle between said propagation direction of said heavy ionsand said film surface is constant.
 28. The method of claim 21, whereinsaid step of irradiating with heavy ions is performed from both filmsides.
 29. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of exposing saidpolymer film is performed with space-modulated ultraviolet radiation.30. The method of claim 29, wherein step of exposing said film with saidultraviolet radiation is performed through a mask.
 31. The method ofclaim 21, wherein said step of etching said film is performed untilthrough-holes appear in said film.
 32. The method of claim 21, whereinsaid step of etching said film is performed through a mask applied tothe film.
 33. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of etching saidfilm is performed separately from both sides of the film.
 34. Anapparatus for producing information carriers, said apparatus comprising:a heavy ion source, a heavy ion stream forming system, an ionguide, atarget converted during a step of irradiation with said heavy ions intosaid information carrier, a space amplitude modulation unit arranged insaid ionguide downstream from said heavy ion stream forming system andconnected to a rotation and motion driver, a motion unit of said target,and a control unit which is connected by corresponding outputs to inputsof said rotation and motion driver and said target motion unit.
 35. Theapparatus by claim 34, wherein said unit of the space amplitudemodulation of said heavy ion stream is made in the form of a matrix ofmobile plates arranged in at least two rows and two columns.
 36. Theapparatus of claim 35, wherein each mobile plate is rotatable about anaxis of symmetry mobile plate is rotatable about an axis of symmetry ofeach mobile plate.
 37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein each of saidplates are movable with respect to other plates within at least one rowand one column.
 38. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein each of saidmatrix rows comprises of 10 to 100 said plates.
 39. The apparatus byclaim 35, wherein each of said matrix columns comprises of 1 to 10 saidplates.
 40. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein each of said plates ismade of a material which at least partially absorbs said heavy ions. 41.The apparatus of claim 35, wherein a height of each of said plates ischosen so as to be larger than the dimension of the cross-section ofsaid heavy ion stream.
 42. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein a width ofeach of said plates is of approximately 1.0 mm to 100 mm.
 43. Thecarrier defined by claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said recessesand through-holes are filled with a hydrophilic matter.
 44. The carrierdefined by claim 1, wherein said film structure has on one side a net ofa metal having through-hole diameter at least 20 micrometers.
 45. Aninformation carrier being a film structure comprising at least one layerof a polymer material having a relief surface, wherein the reliefsurface is formed by at least one of recesses and through-holes having aform of solids of revolution and wherein the film structure comprisesseveral layers made of polymer materials having different refractioncoefficients.
 46. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the recesses,the through-holes and areas of a destructed polymer material have adiameter on the surface of the polymer material in the range of about0.001 micrometers to 20 micrometers.
 47. The carrier defined by claim45, wherein the recesses and through-holes have the same diameter. 48.The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the recesses and through-holeshave different depths.
 49. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein atleast a portion of the recesses and through-holes are filled with ananisotropic material.
 50. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein atleast a portion of the recesses and through-holes are filled with atransparent, electrically conductive material.
 51. The carrier definedby claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the recesses andthrough-holes are filled with a matter having magnetic properties. 52.The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein at least a portion of therecesses and through-holes are filled with a coloring matter.
 53. Thecarrier defined by claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the recessesand through-holes are filled with a hydrophobic matter.
 54. The carrierdefined by claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the recesses andthrough-holes are filled with a luminescent matter.
 55. The carrierdefined by claim 45, wherein at least a portion of the recesses andthrough-holes are filled with a destructed material of the polymerlayer.
 56. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the film structurecomprises at least one layer of a magnetic material.
 57. The carrierdefined by claim 45, wherein the film structure comprises at least onelayer of a dichroic material.
 58. The carrier defined by claim 45,wherein the film structure comprises at least one hydrophilic orhydrophobic layer.
 59. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the filmstructure comprises at least one layer of a luminescent material. 60.The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the film structure comprises atleast one metal layer partially covering the layer of the polymermaterial.
 61. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein at least onelayer of the film structure is made of a thermoplastic material.
 62. Thecarrier defined by claim 45, wherein the film structure comprisesseveral layers made of polymer materials having different spectralcharacteristics.
 63. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the filmstructure has on one said a net of polymer material having athrough-hole diameter at least 20 micrometers.
 64. The carrier definedby claim 63, wherein a polyethyleneterphthalat is employed as the netpolymer material.
 65. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein at leasta portion of the recesses and through-holes are filled with hydrophilicmatter.
 66. The carrier defined by claim 45, wherein the film structurehas on one side a net of metal having through-hole diameter at least 20micrometers.